UABDivulga - Barcelona recerca i innovació

Worldwide, overweight and obesity affect a large proportion of young adults. According to the World Health Organization, in developed countries, 43 % of this population is overweight and 16 % is obese. These figures are expected to rise, and by 2050 more than half of young people could be overweight or obese. Obesity and overweight are often seen simply as matters of weight, but their impact goes far beyond appearance. Even in young adults, a high body mass index (BMI) is associated with both physical and psychological health problems.

A current classification of obesity is based on the presence of associated cardiometabolic risks: metabolically healthy obese individuals are overweight or obesity without metabolic comorbidities, whereas metabolically unhealthy obese individuals show various problems, such as insulin resistance, dyslipidemia, and hypertension. Many of the studies available to date examine physical and mental health separately, losing sight of the global and holistic view of the problem.

Our study sought to fill this gap by exploring how sociodemographic factors, nutritional patterns (intake of minerals, vitamins, carbohydrates, and fats-sodium), mental well-being (depression, anxiety, and stress), and cardiometabolic health cluster into different groups that represent distinct levels of vulnerability. We identified four differentiated phenotypes in a sample of N = 188 young university students with overweight (BMI > 25) or obesity (BMI > 30). It was observed that the phenotype with the worst mental health was associated with a higher BMI and also a higher cardiometabolic risk. Gender differences were identified: men were mainly concentrated in the phenotypes with worse cardiometabolic health, while women were grouped in the phenotype with greater psychological distress. The phenotypes characterized by higher levels of psychopathology also tended to have less healthy diets and greater cardiometabolic risk.

This study has allowed a better understanding of how eating habits, and biopsychological health are interrelated, particularly regarding metabolically unhealthy obesity (which represents a significant health risk). The findings highlight that overweight and obesity are complex and multidimensional conditions, influenced not only by what we eat but also by overall health and individual resilience.

Preventing obesity in young university students is not just about calories or exercise; it requires an integrated and holistic approach that promotes healthy eating, mental well-being, and resilience. Only by addressing these factors in a transversal way can we help these students adopt healthier lifestyles and reduce long-term health risks, contributing to both their physical and emotional well-being.